SHRONNTRAVELLOGUE: HALONG BAY 2D1N

I booked my Halong Bay trip with Halonghub. They are a tour company in collaboration with many Cruise company, thus according to your budget, plans and things you wanna do on board, the staff from Halong Hub will recommend you with the suitable cruise. I wanted a Mid-class cruise with cave visiting, swimming, and kayaking available, and I was recommended to book Aclass Legend Cruise. After choosing your cruise, you gotta choose the type of room you wish to stay in. I think the difference between the Deluxe and Superior room is that the Deluxe room is at the main deck, easily accessible to the dining area, and the windows are wider and bigger, while the Superior rooms are at the lower deck, with smaller windows. I booked 2 x Deluxe room @ USD240/room (with addition USD20 for return transport) because I love big windows LOL and it probably is gonna be a once in a lifetime experience. 

The bus picked us up from our hotel on time, and tour guide helped to bring my parents' luggage up onto the bus. We brought our luggage along because we'll be checking into another hotel after our Halong Bay trip!

ALL ONBOARD! (Briefing at the dining area)

Our Deluxe Room!!

Washroom~

Shower, the window view is amazing btw

Can't get enough of the towel Swan

Menu for our 2D1N (Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch) You can let them know what you don't eat, and they'll prepare something else for you!

Surprise birthday celebration for daddy during dinner time!

Breakfast! Chicken Pho

We got back on land @ 11.30am, 12pm after lunch is served.

Shuttle bus back to Hanoi @ 4pm, we check into our new hotel @ Hanoi Graceful Hotel, settled down and decided to walk to Hoan Kiem Lake which is about 5-10min away.

I kept hoping to go watch the Water Puppet Show @ Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, since it was one of the top attractions in Hanoi, but we didn't manage to arrange it because by the time we get back to Hanoi, it'll be quite late and we were all dead beat. Didn't expect while walking along Hoan Kiem Lake on the way back to Hotel, Mommy suddenly pointed and shouted "Water Puppet Theatre! I thought you want to go?" And I was shocked to see the theatre just opposite the lake because I wasn't clear of the location of this place. Excited, we went to buy our tickets just like buying movie tickets, there're seats allocation, and you have to book in advance to avoid disappointment! We bought tickets for 8pm show, and went off to find a dinner place before the show starts.

While buying the tickets at the counter, Mommy from the side jokingly told the lady,"Give us good seats ah~" and then she took note of it and really gave us the front seats in the centre! Amazing how such comments really works. HAHAHA! 

Bought tickets, head off to feed our tumtum first!

Remember to take one of this while heading in for the show! Because the show is acting according to these titles. We didn't know there was such a paper, and we kinda blank out and felt sleepy 1/4 after the start of the show because we didn't know what isit about, thankfully the guy sitting beside me shared this with me.

Thanks to mummy we've got good seats!

The water puppet actors

SHRONNTRAVELLOUGE: 5D4N HANOI

After Beijing when at the age of 6, we stopped going overseas (other than Malaysia). 17 years of wait, we're finally at Vietnam, Hanoi! Mother decided to follow tour groups but I insisted that we should travel by ourselves because I didn't like the rushing and itinerary of the trip. So? Mom asked me to plan the trip if I wanna go free & easy. 

It wasn't easy, researching online, reading articles, reviews, forums, recommendations, blogs, I'm blessed to have great friends (Zuoen & Terence) to share their itineraries and things to note with me. I decided  on our 5 Days 4 Nights trip for a family of 4 scheduled as below:

Day 1: Touch down Hanoi in the evening, free & easy

Day 2: Day Trip to Bai Dinh Pagoda and Trang An

Day 3: Halong Bay 2D1N (will be updated in the next post!)

Day 4: Halong Bay, Hoan Kiem Lake, Water Puppet Show

Day 5: Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Complex and Cafe Giang with Hanoi Kids

Short introduction about Hanoi, Hà means River and Nội means within, the land of Hà Nội is surrounded by Red River thus its name. Hà Nội is not the biggest city, but it has the highest population living in the City as it was the Capital of Vietnam before they moved it to Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City.

Depending on your preference, there is lotsa shopping you can do here in Hanoi, Old Quarters and scenery viewing around North Vietnam. I love the Ocean/ Lake more than shopping, thus there is not much shopping in my itinerary, just some free & easy time at night.

HOW WILL YOU LOOK IN THE FUTURE?

How do you want to look like 10, 20 years down the road? Are you able to picture how you'll be in the future?

Coach Ruth told me, "look at the one who earn the most in the company, look at the CEO of the company. If that's how you want to look, you should stay. If not, you better leave as soon as you can". Do you know why? Your boss had lived the life you're living to become like how he look today. Or if you don't have a CEO to look at because you're your own boss, you can take a guide of those successful entrepreneurs in your industry.

Do I love the way I'm going to look 10 years or 30 years down the road? Yes. Definitely a BIG FAT YES. 

Michael O Johnson, CEO and Chairman of Herbalife, age 61, he is able to complete Trialthon. (Photo credits to google images)

Angel President Team Zhujun, met Herbalife at the age of 28, she is 50 this year, a mother of a 11 years old daughter. In this picture, she was wearing a double C top, but pined our Herbalife logo over and said, "Its Herbalife that gave me health and wealth, not Double C". (Photo credits to Shuhuajie's facebook)

4-Stars President Derek and Joanne with their kids. President Joanne met Herbalife at the age of 18, and she is 34. (Photo credits to President Joanne's facebook)

I looked at them and asked myself if this is how I want to look even when I'm 30, 50 or 60? Heallyeah!! They don't even look like their actual age. It seems like they've stopped ageing!

I was in the Commodities and Trading industry for 1 year, and I saw my boss working day and night! He is quick and smart, I definitely want to be like him! However, his health is not able to catch up with working lifestyle. My mentor too, he can settle any problem arises instantly, easily adapt to changes and pro at almost anything and everything. I've looked up to both of them since the day I entered into this industry. What changed my mind was their lifestyle: Irregular meal times, alcohol for entertainment, working from 8 am to 11 pm, and 24/7 on standby for any problems with the company.

I knew this isn't what I want. I picked up the courage to change because deep down in me, I know that life isn't just about working, getting sick, growing old and die away eventually. There is definitely something more. How can some people look like they don't age at all? Does everyone living truly only go through birth > education > work (till you die without a goal in life) > marriage > giving birth > paying bills and fees > collect CPF and finally death?

I kept thinking if there could be something more. And I did. I found my mission, my dreams, my goals, impossibilities and a lot of kindness here. 

Have you found what makes you different from other people? Have you found the purpose in your life? Is it going to be like everyone else? Or do you think that there should be more than what you're currently living/ having?

Till next time,

#behappywithshronn